Transfer News Flash: Joško Gvardiol set to sign with Manchester City, Pogba remains unaffected by Juventus pressure, and Joao Felix to be loaned to Barça – that’s the latest from the transfer market on July 20th.
Juventus Turin aims to push Paul Pogba to make a decision; the club wants to sell him, but the player may not be keen on leaving. According to Tuttosport, the new sporting director, Cristiano Giuntoli, wants Pogba to lower his salary if he stays. Pogba’s current gross salary is 10.5 million euros per year.
Juventus hopes to extend his contract and spread his net salary (8 million euros, plus bonuses) or rebalance between fixed wages and bonuses. However, Paul Pogba seems uninterested and is considering a move to Saudi Arabia.
Joško Gvardiol is set to join Manchester City. According to Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, an agreement has been reached with RB Leipzig for the player’s transfer, with the operation amounting to a whopping 120 million euros.
João Félix, previously linked to PSG, is now set to sign with FC Barcelona. Following an expression of love, Barcelona is signing João Félix, according to AS. An advanced agreement for a loan deal from Atlético Madrid to FC Barcelona has been reached.
All parties are in agreement for João Félix to join Barcelona. For Atlético, this loan with a purchase option allows them to recoup a portion of the significant investment of 126 million euros they made to acquire João Félix in 2019 as Antoine Griezmann’s replacement, who went to Barcelona and then returned to Madrid to compete with… João Félix. Final details are being worked out, with the involvement of the player’s agent, Jorge Mendes, who has relationships with both La Liga clubs.
Found not guilty by British justice, Benjamin Mendy signs with Lorient, but he had other suitors. Manchester City will not retain Benjamin Mendy, but a French club is taking the risk. Lorient has signed the defender, who was cleared of rape allegations.
The Breton club announced the news via a statement: « Benjamin Mendy signs for two years with FC Lorient. FC Lorient is pleased to announce today the signing for two seasons of French international left-back Benjamin Mendy (29 years old). »
Having been trained at Le Havre between 2007 and 2013, and later playing for Olympique de Marseille (2013/2016) and AS Monaco (2016/2017), Benjamin Mendy returns to Ligue 1, which is likely to create some controversy, as one can imagine.
According to Foot Mercato, Burnley, « via Vincent Kompany, showed interest, as did Nottingham Forest and Olympiakos. » Benjamin Mendy also attempted a return to OM, but the Marseille club reportedly rejected the offer.